How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 5.4
Resena smiled gently.
“Me?”
“Yes. I was really surprised when you said you told His Highness Crown Prince Eldis such things, but the insight you’ve been showing lately is truly remarkable. I don’t think even a military strategist would be as meticulous as you.”
‘Well, that’s because I’ve been forced to track dark mages and murderers through several regressions…’
That’s probably why her deductive skills had inevitably improved. But instead of saying that, Resena replied, “It’s just what I should have been doing.” Hearing this, Renard was silent for a moment, but soon he too looked up at the sky following Resena.
The sky, with the sun shining brightly and white fluffy clouds blooming, looked truly clear regardless of the circumstances below. Feeling somewhat at ease, Renard glanced at Resena. His sister was looking up with a faint smile, so he soon turned his gaze back as well.
“Then, after dealing with all the dark mages, are you planning to go straight to the capital?”
“That’s right. It’s already been 11 days. Once the report comes in that we’ve dealt with the earth betrayers, I plan to head to the capital right away. And there’s someone I need to find in the capital too.”
“….”
Renard fixed his gaze on Resena and asked slowly.
“Is that person, by any chance, someone you have feelings for?”
Resena just smiled. Because of this, Renard mentioned the name.
“Remember when you left the carriage for about two hours and sat on a bench at the canal dock, leaving me behind? Sister, you were intently watching someone carving… Was the person in that robe so appealing to you?”
“….”
“Be honest with me, sister. Well, I have no intention of comparing His Highness Crown Prince Eldis with that person. After all, you’re the heir to the Arnasus family. I don’t mind if you marry a commoner or a knight. Wherever your heart leads you is fine with me.”
“Renard…”
“But I think you should be careful when it comes to rejecting His Highness Crown Prince Eldis. He has feelings for you. He’s rationally attracted to you. And… given that this has never happened before, he might become impulsive.”
At those words, Resena lowered her gaze to look at the children below. The children, seemingly hot, were huddled together under the shade of a tree, drinking water. And a woman who appeared to be their mother was approaching them with a smile.
“Leto. Your face is so red… Chris, your face is completely tanned too. Come here.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
Seeing the child walking slowly, the mother burst into laughter as if she couldn’t help it. Resena suddenly thought of the Duchess and her eyes widened.
Even if she had to reject Crown Prince Eldis, her mother would encourage her to do as she wished. Her father would be the same. Indeed, if she had to choose the best thing about this novel world, it would be having a loving family by her side.
‘And… that’s why I was able to maintain my sanity through several regressions without going crazy.’
“Should I tell Mother in advance? That Crown Prince Eldis is not my object of interest. That we’re just in a relationship of advisor and executor.”
“Hmm… Yes. I think it’s better to tell her in advance. Of course, even if you later develop romantic interest in His Highness, if you don’t tell her now… Both of them might misunderstand who you truly have feelings for. It would be really troublesome if they try to push you towards Crown Prince Eldis thinking it’s for the best.”
Indeed, Renard’s words were right. Resena nodded. Then she watched as one child walked holding the mother’s hand, while the other was carried in her arms.
A person who seemed to be the children’s father came running hurriedly and lifted the child who was holding the mother’s hand. As he gave the child a piggyback ride, the child laughed with delight. Resena unconsciously gripped Renard’s hand tightly. He remained still for a moment, then raised his head at the sound of a hawk’s cry.
“Looks like a messenger bird has arrived. They sent a report right after it ended… It seems they wrote a letter almost immediately after seeing it.”
“Yes. Let’s go to the agent and hear what they said.”
“Okay.”
Resena slowly began to descend the castle wall. A blue hawk glided over Renard’s head as he turned his back, heading towards the audience chamber.
***
“The young lady says she’ll come in 3 days.”
“Haha. It seems you’ve already become close with the young lady you’re interested in. Well, it was thanks to her that you were able to advise Renard and deal a blow to the dark mages during the summer ball, as you said.”
‘We’re not exactly close…’
Eldis was about to say that, but instead, he just smiled faintly and said to the Emperor.
“It’s already been 12 days since she went down to her territory to track down dark mages. Since she says she’ll return in 3 days, it seems she’s contacting me in advance to let me know it’ll be a bit later than two weeks.”
“In any case, isn’t it proof that the young lady is interested in you, to the extent that she’s considerate of you? Well, even if she pointed out your flaws, she probably doesn’t have eyes so peculiarly high as to reject you, who could be called almost perfect. No, should I say that you’re so appealing to her that others wouldn’t even come close to satisfying her?”
“….”
“Haha. What do you think, Eldis?”
Looking at the Emperor’s wrinkled face laughing cheerfully, Eldis replied in a gentle tone.
“It’s certain that she has some interest in me, but I’m not sure if it’s romantic interest. The young lady used to follow me around before, but now she seems to be paying attention to something entirely different.”
“What? No romantic interest in you. …If the young lady is indeed a woman, how could she not be interested in you?”
Eldis inwardly gave a bitter smile but didn’t show it outwardly.
He just continued speaking kindly.
“Your Majesty. Even if she were to reject me, I hope you won’t put too much pressure on her. I’m interested in the young lady, but I don’t want her to be forcibly connected to me.”
“Eldis. Are you saying you don’t mind if the young lady’s heart isn’t directed towards you?”
He shook his head.
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then?”
“I mean I don’t want to forcibly tie her heart to connect with her. Of course, Your Majesty might have just made a simple suggestion, but some people feel life-altering pressure from such small things.”
At Eldis’s words, the Emperor showed slight displeasure on his face. Of course, Eldis knew that the Emperor sometimes appeared to others as a tyrant obsessed with power. But to Eldis, he was just a kind father who always followed his words well.
“Your Majesty is too precious to me. Incomparable to anyone else, and therefore, a wise ruler whose words I must always follow. But I hope you won’t delve too deeply into my love life.”
“Eldis.”
Eldis spoke kindly.
“In fact, the young lady is really not interested in me, to the point where I barely got her permission for a date after clinging to her.”
“What?”
The Emperor’s eyes widened. But Eldis continued.
“The young lady has extremely little romantic interest in me, just as I used to be. Our relationship is now merely that of an advisor and an executor. The young lady probably knows this well… and she might have someone else in her heart.”
The Emperor let out a pained groan.
“Hmm… That’s quite concerning. I was thinking of marrying you to any woman you wanted. But since you don’t want to constrain the woman’s heart even if you’re interested, there’s little I can do.”
Eldis watched the Emperor with a smiling face.
